Birthday Cake

Growing up if it was your birthday my mom rolled out her favorite recipe for chocolate cake and topped it with Seafoam frosting. I can still see Mom baking the cake in her pans that had bars attached to loosen the cake, similar to this one:  and beating that frosting in the top of a double boiler on the stove.

My grandson J turned 5 the other day and his mom and dad are having family over for a birthday dinner today. My daughter asked me to please bake our traditional cake for him. I was happy to oblige:

Mom's Chocolate Cake:
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup boiling water

1. Cream together butter, sugar, and cocoa powder. In a second bowl sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. To the butter mixture beat in egg yolks, vanilla, and buttermilk. Add wet ingredients to dry ones and beat well. Add boiling water and beat until smooth.
2.Divide into two greased and floured 9 inch cake pans.  Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
3. Cool completely. Frost.

Here's the cake cooling off:

Mom's Sea foam Frosting:
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup cold water
2 egg whites
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. vanilla

1. In the top portion of a double boiler place brown sugar, water, egg whites and cream of tartar. With an electric hand mixer beat on low speed for three minutes.
2. Place over boiling water, cook constantly beating with mixer, for 7 minutes or until stiff peaks have formed.
3. Remove from over heat and add vanilla. Beat 2-3 minutes until frosting is at spreading consistency.
Makes enough frosting to do filling, top and sides of a two layer 9 inch cake or one 10 inch tube cake.

Here's my DIY double boiler:

 And the cake all frosted

 

 And decorated!

 

And the gift all wrapped up and ready to go: